Ajinkya Rahane Confirms Retirement from All Formats of International Cricket

Team India’s veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane has now retired from all formats of international cricket. The Maharashtra-born cricketer announced his retirement via an Instagram video post and finally drew the curtains to his 15-years of illustrious cricket career.

The 38-year-old’s decision comes after being sidelined for 3 years away from international cricket. The West Indies red-ball tour in July 2023 was the last game when Rahane played for India in the second test of the 2-match series at the  Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad.

Notably, Rahane has been one of the most underrated Indian cricketers who holds unique and rare records to his name.

‘Everything Has a Beginning and End’: Rahane’s Emotional Statement

Ajinkya Rahane revealed his decision publicly by releasing a video statement on his Instagram. Here is what the right-handed batsman said:

“Yes! You need to accept the reality of life that everything has a beginning and an end. When the right time arrives, we should respect the moment and move forward. Always, I ensured proper timing in my batting skills, and right now it is applicable in my career. Having understood the importance, I feel the perfect timing for me has come today to announce my international cricket retirement and move on across all formats,” Rahane said.

Is Rahane Virat Kohli’s Favorite Batting Partner in Test Cricket?

Virat Kohli penned a heartfelt message on social media, naming Ajinkya Rahane as his favorite batting partner in Test cricket. Across 67 Test matches, the duo has amassed 10 century partnerships and 17 half-century stands, compiling 3,661 runs at an average of 56.32.

Interestingly, Kohli amassed his international century most times when Rahane was at the non-striker’s end.

Although it feels like hyping Virat’s achievements on Rahane’s retirement, the fact is that the right-handed batter has built crucial partnerships and anchored India’s innings under pressure.

In fact, he has been part of Virat’s centuries on most occasions compared to any other player at the non-striker’s end, highlighting his understanding with his former skipper.

Unbeaten Test Captaincy Record: Unique and Rare Achievement

Ajinkya Rahane retired from international cricket with an unbeaten captaincy record in Test cricket. Despite a short captaincy stint as a stand-in skipper, this is a rare achievement that the great former captains like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma haven’t achieved in their Test careers.

Rahane’s Rare T20I Record That Remains Unbeaten

Ajinkya Rahane’s international debut for India started off against England in a one-off T20I fixture where he achieved an exceptional record that remains unbeaten to date. On 31st August 2011, the right-handed batsman scored  61 runs off 39 balls (4s: 8, 6s: 0, Strike Rate: 156.41) at the Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

Notably, his 61-run knock is the highest score by any debutant Indian batter in T20I. Ishan Kishan ranks second in the list after Rahane, having scored 56 runs against England in his T20I debut back on March 14, 2021.

Rahane’s appearances in ICC Tournament Editions

1. T20 World Cups: 2014 and 2016
2. ODI World Cup: 2015
3. Champions Trophy: 2017 (included in squad but did not play a single match in the tournament)
4. World Test Championship (WTC) Finals: 2021 and 2023

Also Read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Reflects on His Early Growth and Struggles in International Cricket

Glimpse of Ajinkya Rahane’s International Cricket Career Stats

Here is a detailed breakdown of how Ajinkya Rahane amassed 8,414 runs in his international career, including 15 centuries (Tests: 12 + ODIs: 03)  and 51 half-centuries to his name. However, the veteran batsman never scored a century in his T20I career, as the unbeaten 61-run knock remains the highest so far.